RISE TO POWER: Lickey to take electric dept. reins

May 2, 2013

After 13 years working for the city, Shawn Lickey is taking over as superintendent of the electric department.Post & Mail photo / Brett Myers

COLUMBIA CITY â€” Few people would consider 13 as their lucky number.

But for Shawn Lickey, the number has a nice ring to it. He has been working with the Columbia City Electric Department for 13 years, and he will step into the superintendentâ€™s position at the end of this month to take over for a retiring Larry Whetstone.

The story diverges though, with the use of the word luck. Lickey has worked hard to get where he is at and has taken advantage of many learning opportunities.

â€śI took an interest in any available training they would send me to, and I learned quite a bit while doing that schooling,â€ť he said.

Lickey said he has been groomed for this position for a little while by Whetstone. Still, he was honored to be offered the job, and said the timing has been great.

â€śWe are very fortunate Larry provided us with that opportunity and gave us enough warning that he was going to be stepping out,â€ť he said. â€śIt was a wise move to better transition from Larry to me. Heâ€™s been bringing me up to speed.â€ť

Thirteen years for Lickey began as a groundsmen with the department. He then completed his lineman training. Currently, he is the electric construction supervisor.

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